Fela to Angelique Kidjo: African Music Pioneers Who Paved the Way for Afrobeats

The global rise of Afrobeats in the last decade has been credited to contemporary artistes who have further taken the original sound beyond the shores of the continent.

From Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido to Ayra Starr, Rema, and others, Afrobeats continues its global rise, shaping sounds and culture from Lagos to London, Dubai to Amsterdam, Los Angeles to Vancouver and to far flung parts of the globe.

But before the new kids on the block, there were those artistes on whose foundations the genre was built. They watered the ground for today’s rainmakers, the giants upon whose shoulders the new kids stood to see farther and capture international attention. They saw the African music vision of tomorrow in their prime years. They were the OGs before the OGs, the legends who influenced and shaped the sound of today’s African global superstars.

From Fela, the pioneer, to the others who could be described as innovators who shaped the foundations of African music today; they influenced the rhythms before the new generation of melody makers were born. These are some of the pioneers and innovators who paved the way for African music and contemporary Afrobeats now topping global music charts.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti – The Creator

Afrobeats’ history is incomplete without mentioning Fela. The Nigerian was the soul and architect. A music prophet, Fela was the creator and pioneer of Afrobeat, the genre that would later inspire the what is now known as contemporary Afrobeats. He used his music as a platform for social change, with powerful political and social messages. He began the first revolution both on the streets and in the dancehalls across Nigeria, Africa and beyond. His Kalakuta Republic and Afrika Shrine became a melting pot for music lovers and culture icons. His music shaped arts and culture globally. The creator is still the reference point for generations, with Zombie, among several of his hit songs, now internationally recognised soundtrack. Tony Allen, Fela’s legendary drummer and Afrobeat co-creator, also deserves worthy mention as his iconic drumming style further cemented the genre’s identity and global appeal.

King Sunny Ade – The Grammy Forerunner

With a fine blend of Juju, traditional Yoruba talking drums, highlife and Western instruments, King Sunny Ade (KSA) expanded the frontiers of African music. Decades before Burna Boy and Davido were selling out stadiums and Arenas in London and the US, KSA was breaking borders on tour with some of the world’s biggest music stars, including Manu Dibango and Stevie Wonder,across Europe and North America. the first Nigerian to be nominated for a Grammy, the Nigerian music legend made African music a true international export shaping the perception of African music worldwide and inspiring future Afrobeats stars. His musical longevity is testament to his influence.

Lagbaja – The Masked Innovator

Renowned for his dexterity with the saxophone, the Nigerian musician and songwriter left his footprints in the shaping of Afrobeats. With hit songs like Konko Below, Nothing For You, Feyin E, among others, the music of the Masked One, whose Yoruba nickname, ‘Omo Baba Mukomuko’ means the ’son of a faceless one’ brought joy to feet in living rooms, parties and dancehalls. His anonymity fueled his legendary status, just as his unique style – a beautiful mosaic of sounds influenced by Yoruba rhythms and jazz, spiced with political and socially conscious lyrics – reshaped the landscape of Afrobeats. Think of all the good times in the 90s and 2000s, the distinct sound of Lagbaja was never far away.

Majek Fashek – Rainmaker

A musical prophet who came ahead of his time, Majek Fashek was renowned for his Afro-fusion sound heavily influenced by reggae and rock. With stagecraft performances and vocal reminiscent of the great Bob Marley, Majek defined his own image and path to musical greatness with musical depth. He collaborated with international music stars and played at sold out venues, from Lagos to New York. Iconic singer, songwriter and guitarist, with evergreen tracks such as Send Down the Rain, Religion Na Politics, I Come from the Ghetto, Majek cemented his name in the history books. A flawed genius, he found solace in music, and captured hearts with his messages of peace, unity and brotherhood.

Angelique Kidjo – The Songstress

A powerhouse of music, Angelique Kidjo reshaped the African music landscape with her vocals, finesse and dexterity. She is the continent’s music diva as her music literally paved the way for many contemporary African music stars today on the international stage. A five-time Grammy award winner, Kidjo’s global appeal transcends generations. She broke continental and international barriers with her multilingual versatility (Yoruba, Fon, French and English), expanding African music footprints across the globe. Small wonder that the 65-year-old recently became first African artiste to be selected for a star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame, a fitting honour for an artiste whose music transcends generations.

Papa Wemba – The Voice

The late Congolese start was crucial to the emergence of African music as a global force. Despite his Congolese soukous and rumba roots firmly evident in his music, Wemba’s style went beyond continental borders. With his unique style infusing a diversity of global sounds, his music was electric, effortlessly crossing time zones, languages and continents.

Youssou N’Dour – Senegalese King

One of Africa’s greatest music exports, the Senegalese music legend captured hearts from Dakar to the rest of the world with his powerful vocals and catchy music. N’Dour’s global music tours and fusion of traditional Wolof rhythms with global sounds influenced the international appeal of African music.Like Fela, N’Dour also used his music to address social issues. His 1994 hit single “7 Seconds” with Swedish artiste Neneh Cherry is regarded as one of the most recognised African songs in history.